Cushion apparatus

ABSTRACT

A cushion apparatus, for being wrapped around a portion of a furniture item, includes an elongated cushion member, a hook fastener and a loop fastener. The elongated cushion member includes a first end portion and a second end portion. The hook fastener is disposed on the first end portion of the elongated cushion member. The loop fastener disposed on the second end portion of the elongated cushion member. The hook fastener and the loop fastener are configured to removably connect the first end portion of the elongated cushion member to the second end portion of the elongated cushion member for enabling the cushion apparatus to be wrapped around the portion of the furniture item.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention claims priority under 35 United States Code, Section 119 on the U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/108,042 filed on Oct. 24, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to protection devices, and, more particularly, to a cushion apparatus adapted for being wrapped around a portion of a furniture item for protecting a user from injury caused by accidental collision of the user with the portion of the furniture item.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, conventional furniture items, such as a bed, include a body portion and a plurality of legs. The plurality of legs is configured to support the body portion over a ground surface. The plurality of legs may be disposed at various points along the body portion, and, in the example instance of an item with a rectangular body portion, at four corners or at specific locations between corners of the body portion of the furniture item. The furniture item may be configured to be portable by disposing a roller or a caster at an end portion of each of the plurality of legs thereof. The furniture item may be positioned at a convenient location within a work or living area, such as a room, such that the furniture item is easily accessible by a user.

However, it may happen sometimes that while walking through the room in the dark, or while getting onto or off the furniture item, the user may accidentally collide with one of the plurality of legs of the furniture item. For example, a portion of foot of the user such as a toe portion of the user may accidentally strike one of the plurality of legs while walking through the room in the dark. Generally, the plurality of legs of the furniture item may be composed of a hard material, such as wood, metal, hard plastic and the like, that may cause bruising, swelling, breaking of the bones of the user's foot upon such a collision.

Accordingly, based on the foregoing, there exists a need for preventing an injury to a foot of a user caused by collision thereof with a portion of a furniture item.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, the general purpose of the present invention is to provide a cushion apparatus that is configured to include all the advantages of the prior arts, and to overcome the drawbacks inherent therein.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a cushion apparatus that is capable of being wrapped around a portion, such as a leg, of a furniture item for preventing an injury to a user due to accidental collision of the user with the portion of the furniture item.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cushion apparatus that is simple in construction.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a cushion apparatus that is capable of being installed easily on a portion of a furniture item.

In light of the above objects, a cushion apparatus for being wrapped around a portion of a furniture item is disclosed. The cushion apparatus includes an elongated cushion member, a hook fastener and a loop fastener. The elongated cushion member has a first end portion and a second end portion. The hook fastener is disposed on the first end portion of the elongated cushion member. The loop fastener is disposed on the second end portion of the elongated cushion member. Further, the hook fastener and the loop fastener are configured to removably connect the first end portion of the elongated cushion member to the second end portion of the elongated cushion member for enabling the cushion apparatus to be wrapped around the portion of the furniture.

In another aspect of the present invention, the elongated cushion member is configured to assume a conical shape when the cushion apparatus is wrapped around the portion of the furniture item.

These together with other aspects of the present invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the present invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part of this present invention. For a better understanding of the present invention, its operating advantages, and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a cushion apparatus, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the cushion apparatus of FIG. 1 positioned around a portion of a furniture item, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a cushion apparatus, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view the cushion apparatus of FIG. 4 wrapped around a portion of a furniture item, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The exemplary embodiments described herein detail for illustrative purposes are subject to many variations in structure and design. It should be emphasized, however, that the present invention is not limited to a particular cushion apparatus as shown and described. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.

The terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.

The present invention relates to a cushion apparatus that is capable of being wrapped around a portion of a furniture item. The term “furniture item” as described herein refers to but is not limited to a chair, a couch, a bed, a table and the like. Similarly, the term “portion” of the furniture item refers to, but is not limited to, a leg (more specifically, a lower portion of the leg), a roller, a caster and the like.

Referring to FIG. 1, a cushion apparatus 100 capable of being wrapped around a portion of a furniture item (shown in FIG. 2) is illustrated. The cushion apparatus 100 includes an elongated cushion member 102, a hook fastener 104 and a loop fastener 106.

As explained herein, the elongated cushion member 102 includes a first end portion 108 and a second end portion 110. Further, the elongated cushion member 102 is configured to be flexible and resilient. Accordingly, in one embodiment of the present invention, the elongated cushion member 102 may be composed of a foam material. Although, the present embodiment is being explained with reference to the elongated cushion member 102 being composed of the foam material, however, it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that the elongated cushion member 102 may be composed of other flexible and resilient materials. Accordingly, in another embodiment of the present invention, the elongated cushion member 102 may be composed of at least one of a sponge material, an elastomeric material, a resinous material, and the like.

Further, in the present embodiment of the present invention, the elongated cushion member 102 is described as a single piece structure; however, the present invention is not limited to the single piece structure of the elongated cushion member 102. In another embodiment of the present invention, the elongated cushion member 102 may include a flexible cushion case filled with a filler material, such as wool, hair, feathers, foam rubber, cellulose-based sponge and the like. Specifically, the filler material may be enclosed within the flexible cushion case for configuring a flexible and resilient elongated cushion member similar to the elongated cushion member 102.

As shown in FIG. 1, the hook fastener 104 is disposed on the first end portion 108 of the elongated cushion member 102 and the loop fastener 106 is disposed on the second end portion 110 of the elongated cushion member 102. The hook fastener 104 and the loop fastener 106 may be respectively disposed on the first end portion 108 and the second end portion 110 by means of various attachment mechanisms, such as stitching, an adhesive and like, known to a person skilled in the art. Further, the present invention is not limited to the positioning of the hook fastener 104 on the first end portion 108 and the loop fastener 106 on the second end portion 110. In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the hook fastener 104 may be disposed on the second end portion 110 of the elongated cushion member 102 and the loop fastener 106 may be disposed on the first end portion 108 of the elongated cushion member 102.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the hook fastener 104 may include a piece of fabric covered with tiny hooks. Similarly, in one embodiment of the present invention, the loop fastener 106 may include a piece of fabric covered with smaller and hairier loops. Further, in another embodiment of the present invention, the hook fastener 104 and the loop fastener 106 may be configured to have different structures or mechanisms known to the person skilled in the art. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to any particular structure or mechanism of the hook fastener 104 and the loop fastener 106.

Further, the hook fastener 104 and the loop fastener 106 are configured to removably connect the first end portion 108 of the elongated cushion member 102 to the second end portion 110 of the elongated cushion member 102. More specifically, the elongated cushion member 102 may be curled such that the first end portion 108 is aligned over the second end portion 110. Thereafter, the hook fastener 104 may be pressed against the loop fastener 106 so that the hooks of the hook fastener 104 entangle in the loops of the loop fastener 106 for removably securing the first end portion 108 of the elongated cushion member 102 to the second end portion 110 of the elongated cushion member 102 of the cushion apparatus 100.

Further, the cushion apparatus 100 of the present invention may be manufactured in different sizes to wrap around differently sized parts of the furniture item as per the user requirement. Furthermore, the cushion apparatus 100 of the present invention may be manufactured in different colors, designs, or the like, as per the user requirement.

Now referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a utilized state of the cushion apparatus 100 is illustrated. Specifically, the cushion apparatus 100 is wrapped around a portion, such as a caster 202 and a lower portion 204 of a leg 206, of a furniture item 208. As shown in FIG. 2, the caster 202 is connected to the lower portion 204 of the leg 206 of the furniture item 208. Initially, the cushion apparatus 100 is positioned around the caster 202 and the lower portion 204 of the leg 206. Subsequently, the elongated cushion member 102 of the cushion apparatus 100 is wrapped around the caster 202 and the lower portion 204 so that the elongated cushion member 102 completely encloses the caster 202 and the lower portion 204 (as shown in FIG. 3). Further, the cushion apparatus 100 may be removably secured around the caster 202 and the lower portion 204 by means of the hook fastener 104 and the loop fastener 106. Specifically, as explained earlier, the hook fastener 104 may be pressed against the loop fastener 106 so that the hooks of the hook fastener 104 entangle in the loops of the loop fastener 106. Accordingly, the first end portion 108 of the elongated cushion member 102 is removably secured to the second end portion 110 of the elongated cushion member 102.

After wrapping of the cushion apparatus 100 around the caster 202 and the lower portion 204 of the leg 206 of the furniture item 208, a user is secure from an injury being caused due to accidental collision with the caster 202 and the lower portion 204 of the leg 206 of the furniture item 208. Specifically, the cushion apparatus 100 provides a cushioning to a body portion, such as a foot, of the user that accidentally collides with the caster 202 or the leg 206 of the furniture item 208. Accordingly, the cushion apparatus 100 prevents an injury to the foot of the user.

Now referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a cushion apparatus 300 configured to wrap around a portion of a furniture item is disclosed, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The cushion apparatus 300 includes an elongated cushion member 302, a hook fastener 304 and a loop fastener 306. The elongated cushion member 302 is configured to include a plurality of portions such as a first portion 308, a second portion 310 and a third portion 312. Furthermore, each of the first portion 308, the second portion 310 and the third portion 312 is separated by a parting line, such as a parting line 314 a and a parting line 314 b (hereinafter collectively referred to as “plurality of parting lines 314”). The plurality of parting lines 314 are configured to provide more flexibility to the elongated cushion member 302. For example, the plurality of parting lines 314 may enable the cushion apparatus 300 to be easily folded for storage purposes when not being used on a portion of the furniture item. Apart from the above-mentioned differences, the elongated cushion member 302 is similar in configuration and structure to the elongated cushion member 102. Accordingly, the elongated cushion member 302 is not described in detail for the sake of brevity of the present document. Further, the hook fastener 304 and the loop fastener 306 are structurally and configurationally similar to the hook fastener 104 and the loop fastener 106. Accordingly, the hook fastener 304 and the loop fastener 306 are not described in detail for the sake of brevity of the present document.

Further, the elongated cushion member 302 includes an upper longitudinal edge portion 316 and a lower longitudinal edge portion 318. The upper longitudinal edge portion 316 and the lower longitudinal edge portion 318 are configured to be extending between a first end portion 320 and a second end portion 322 of the elongated cushion member 302. The upper longitudinal edge portion 316 may have a shorter length than the lower longitudinal edge portion 318. Accordingly, the elongated cushion member 302 may be configured to assume a conical shape when wrapped around a portion of the furniture item, such as a caster. Even though, in the present embodiment of the present invention, the elongated cushion member 302 is configured to assume the conical shape by making the upper longitudinal edge portion 316 shorter in length than the lower longitudinal edge portion 318, the present invention is not limited to a particular means or mechanisms used for assuming the conical shape of the elongated cushion member 302. Further, the elongated cushion member 302 may be configured to assume a conical shape, when wrapped around the portion of the furniture item, by various other means or mechanism known to the person skilled in the art.

Further, and more specifically referring to FIG. 4, the cushion apparatus 300 is depicted to be utilized on a portion of a furniture item 402. Specifically, the cushion apparatus 300 is wrapped around the portion of the furniture item 402.

As disclosed herein, the present invention provides a cushion apparatus that is capable of being wrapped around a portion of a furniture item to prevent injury to a user due to accidental collision of the user (or a body portion thereof) with the furniture item. Various embodiments of the present invention offer following advantages. The cushion apparatus, such as the cushion apparatus 100 and 300, as described herein, is capable of preventing an injury to a body portion, such as a toe, of a user caused by collision thereof with a portion, such as a leg of a furniture item. Specifically, the cushion apparatus provides a cushioning to the body portion of the user that accidentally collides with the portion of the furniture item, thereby preventing any injury caused to the body portion. Further, the cushion apparatus is capable of being installed easily around the portion of the furniture item. Furthermore, the cushion apparatus of the present invention is easy to use.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention. 

1. A cushion apparatus for being wrapped around a portion of a furniture item, the cushion apparatus comprising: an elongated cushion member having a first end portion and a second end portion; a hook fastener disposed on the first end portion of the elongated cushion member; and a loop fastener disposed on the second end portion of the elongated cushion member; wherein the hook fastener and the loop fastener are configured to removably connect the first end portion of the elongated cushion member to the second end portion of the elongated cushion member for enabling the cushion apparatus to be wrapped around the portion of the furniture item.
 2. The cushion apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated cushion member is composed of a foam material.
 3. The cushion apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated cushion member further comprises an upper longitudinal edge portion and a lower longitudinal edge portion, the upper longitudinal edge portion and the lower longitudinal edge portion extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, and the upper longitudinal edge portion being configured to be shorter in length than the lower longitudinal edge portion.
 4. The cushion apparatus of claim 3, wherein the elongated cushion member is configured to assume a conical shape upon the cushion apparatus being wrapped around the portion of the furniture item. 